Noteworthy Moments:

Free Before Seventeen:As schools close for summer vacation and many young people begin to drive for the first time, Shari Ryan revisits the risks come along with the freedom of driving. “I flipped on my turn single and began to take my turn at a left arrow, heading into the grocery store parking lot. It was at that moment that I suddenly realized I wasn’t protected from this world’s hidden evils…”

Stop Trying to be Happier:Sophie Weeks contradicts some of the most popular posts on social media. “I’m not a particularly happy person… So I was very pleased recently to read…research…that suggests that only twelve percent of our happiness is under our direct control.”

Slenderman and Real-Life Monsters: “I don’t suggest a polarizing fear leading to extra locks on the door… Read fairy tales and scary stories with kids. Talk to them. Be as honest as you deem necessary. Kids are smarter than we want them to be..,” muses horror author, Alex Kimmell.

Insights:

Everything Old is New Again:Brian McDonald walks us through how (and why) stories work. “Humans seem to be hardwired not just for enjoying stories, but for imitating and learning from them. People have known this for just about as long as people have been telling stories.”

Unsettled by the prospect of your book being pirated online? Katherine Sears explains why you shouldn’t be. “You should be thankful that one more person has been given the opportunity to tell others how amazing your work is.”